'You do not deserve to eat here:' Man accused of threatening exchange students at McDonald's

Suspect arrested on aggravated assault charge

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Four Egyptian exchange students say they were threatened by a man outside a Florida McDonald's, with him yelling "Get out of my country. You do not deserve to eat here."

St. Johns County sheriff's deputies arrested 60-year-old John Jay Smith early Wednesday on aggravated assault and other charges.

Recommended Videos



The students are between 18 and 23. They told deputies they were eating in the St. Augustine restaurant's parking lot when Smith approached. They say he flashed a pocket knife and threatened them with a stun gun before they fled in their cars.

Deputies say Smith told them, "they killed my son." He told them his son was a Marine killed in Afghanistan. That could not be confirmed.

Smith, who was released on bond, did not immediately return a phone message Friday.


Recommended Videos